With Kentucky steamrolling to a probable number one seed in the NCAA tournamaent, now is a good time to take a good look at the “other” basketball programs in the state and assess their season and post-season chances:
Louisville- Louisville, Kentucky (Big East Conference)
The Cardinals have been sputtering towards the NCAA Tournament since the season started. Having lost several starters from last year’s Elite 8 team, it has been difficult for head coach Rick Pitino to find any consistency out of his team this season. Louisville is (18-9, 9-5) on the season and are currently projected as an 11-seed in the 2010 NCAA Tournament according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi and his most recent Bracketology.
It certainly hasn’t been the season many Louisville fans expected, but those things do happen when starters Terrance Williams and Earl Clark head to the NBA. The Cardinals still have four very tough games ahead of them so making it to the tournament is still up in the air. When everything is said and done, Louisville may have to win the Big East tournament to even make it to the dance if they don’t beat the likes of Georgetown, UConn, Marquette, and Syracuse to finish of the season.
Murray State- Murray, Kentucky (Ohio Valley Conference)
Currently riding a 17-game winning streak, the Racers of Murray State stand to get into the tournament as an at-large bid. Murray State is atop the Ohio Valley Conference at 16-0, with both Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky just behind the Racers in the conference standings. Murray State has been getting it done all season with staunch defense and an excellent record away from home.
Four starters score in double figures, all around 10 points a game with two others averaged just a shade fewer than 10. What has been most impressive is that the Racers are holding teams to just 60 points a game, making it extremely difficult for teams to beat Murray State who is (26-3, 16-0) on the season. Joe Lunardi currently has the Racers at a 13-seed squaring off against a tough team in Temple from the Atlantic 10 conference. Look for the Racers to continue cruising towards the Big Dance.
Morehead State- Morehead, Kentucky (Ohio Valley Conference)
Despite not being projected to make the dance, Morehead State has had a solid season overall in the Ohio Valley conference having gone 13-3 up to this point in the season. They are in second place in the Ohio Valley Conference behind leader Murray State. They could very well play themselves into the play-in-game which would pit them against fellow in-state team Kentucky, who is slated as the overall 1-seed in the tournament thus far.
Center Kenneth Faried has terrorized opponents all season long averaging 17.1 points and 13.5 rebounds a game, giving conference voters every reason to vote Faried as the Conference Player of the Year. The Eagles may not be dancing in March, but they’ve had a solid season and continue to be a contender to play in the NCAA Tournament year in and year out.
Eastern Kentucky- Richmond, Kentucky (Ohio Valley Conference)
The Colonels, also in the Ohio Valley Conference, won’t be dancing this season. At (18-10, 10-6) on the season, Eastern Kentucky doesn’t have the ‘resume’ to make it to the NCAA Tournament despite having a solid season. The team has already lost twice to Morehead State and has another game against conference leader Murray State. Eastern Kentucky may not make the tournament, but they are yet another Kentucky team that has made the state and its fans proud.
Western Kentucky- Bowling Green, Kentucky (Sun Belt Conference)
At (16-12, 9-6) the Hilltoppers will be on the outside looking in this season, a stark contrast from years past when Western Kentucky was an NCAA Tournament ‘Cinderella’ team in the making. AJ Slaughter and Steffphon Pettigrew are still there, players from successful Hilltopper teams of yesteryear but they haven’t been able to lead Western Kentucky to the top of their respective division. The Hilltoppers won’t be dancing this March; a tough feat to accomplish when head coach Darrin Horn decides to leave to take on the challenges of the SEC and South Carolina.
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